National Newsbits for July 29, 2014

July 28, 2014

FEAST OF SAINT MARTHA TODAY

Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara will celebrate a high mass at 6:30 p.m. today at the St. Martha Parish in Kalawaan, Pasig City, in commemoration of the Feast of Saint Martha, the sister of Saints Mary Magdalene and the resurrected Lazarus, three of the closest friends of Jesus. A pandanggo dance procession will precede the mass. Feast masses will also be celebrated at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m. at the Saint Roche (San Roque) Parish in Pateros, Metro Manila. Known as the patroness of homemakers and cooks, St. Martha exemplified the beautiful, noble, yet often unrecognized traditional women’s work and service done for her family. The Catholic Church said St. Martha, who is considered as the “Lord’s worker” and “servant,” is a true model of hospitality, piety, prudence, and faithful discipleship.” (Christina I. Hermoso)

FARMER LOSES GF, WINS LOTTO

A 29-year-old farmer from Leyte lost her girlfriend because he can’t support a family. But on July 14, he won P14.6-million after guessing correctly the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) Mega Lotto 6/45’s winning numbers, 07-09-19-24-35-43. “Even my girlfriend left me because she didn’t believe I could raise a family,” he told PCSO General Manager Ferdinand M. Rojas II after receiving his check for P14,634,376. He plans to provide money for the rebuilding of their church destroyed by typhoon Yolanda, buy a farm land, a house and lot, and send his siblings to school. The winner, a lotto bettor for nine years, won the jackpot with one of his four bets worth P80, which he picked randomly. (Edd K. Usman)

PROTECT MINORS FROM ONLINE GAMBLING

A party-list lawmaker is seeking to penalize parents or guardians who induce minors to open, maintain or use an Internet gaming account for online gambling. House Bill 4540 filed by Act-CIS party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao seeks to regulate online Internet gambling to protect the minors from its pernicious effects. HB 4540 imposes imprisonment of from five to 10 years on any parent, guardian or person exercising moral authority or ascendancy over a minor, ward or incapacitated person, who induces or causes them to commit any of the offenses punishable under the measure. “People are no longer bound to physical locations and are able to place their bets from within their own homes,” he said in pushing for the passage of his bill. (Charissa M. Luci)

MORE RAINS SEEN

A low-pressure area (LPA) east of Northern Luzon is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat that will bring rains over some areas in Luzon and Visayas on Tuesday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was located at 1,060 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, as of 10 a.m. Monday. It will pull the southwest monsoon towards the landmass of Luzon and Visayas and will trigger light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Visayas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Masbate. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. (Ellalyn B. De Vera)